Therapeutic benefits of the group B3 vitamin nicotinamide in mice with lethal endotoxemia and polymicrobial sepsis

Nicotinamide (NAM) is a group B3 vitamin involved in a wide range of biological processes. Recently, the anti-inflammatory properties of NAM have been revealed. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of NAM in murine models of endotoxemia and sepsis. Endotoxemic liver injury was induced by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into d-galactosamine (d-Gal)-sensitized mice. Lethal endotoxemia was induced by intraperitoneal administration of LPS at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Polymicrobial sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). In mice challenged with LPS/d-Gal, treatment with NAM significantly deceased serum aminotransferases level and alleviated hepatic lesions. NAM also reduced serum tumor necrosis factor-α level and attenuated apoptosis in liver, as assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nucleotide nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining and measurements of caspases activities. Survival analysis indicated that NAM reduced the mortality rate of LPS/d-Gal-challenged mice. In mice with lethal endotoxemia, NAM reduced serum level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and multiple organ damage as evidence by improved morphological lesion, reduced lung wet to dry ratio as well as decreased serum level of aminotransferase and blood urea nitrogen. In survival analysis, treatment with NAM increased the survival rate of mice with lethal endotoxemia or CLP-induced polymicrobial sepsis. Taken together, treatment with NAM might provide therapeutic benefits in sepsis, which attenuated inflammatory injury and improved the survival rate.